Monday menus #47

 Back to our regularly scheduled program.

Work three days, off four. Repeat.

Sometimes the hum drum routine of life keeps you safe from the stress of the holidays.  Thought for the week:  YOU are not Christmas, you are YOU*.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Buffalo Chicken Salads {change air filters, go to Brenham, take Mom's mail to the executor}

Wednesday - Gnocci with Pepper and Onion Marinara, garlic toast {finish out the trim in the boy's bathroom}

Thursday - Crockpot Chicken Drums, chopped salad {pay bills, take items to James Avery for cleaning, do a craft, Bubbie's last day of classes?}

Friday - Tilapia, carrots, baked potato {payday, weekend food prep, change sheets}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

*something to remember when I feel like I have to "make it up to" my peeps for the loss of Mark in their lives.

Gina

5 thing Friday - oatmeal, anniversary ring, unfinished project, bread bowl, Mom

Why is it that starting a good habit is harder than kicking a bad one? 

I actually enjoy my microwave oatmeal al work.  So much more so than an Egg McMuffin.  Sometimes It all comes down to habit - getting yourself prepped and ready for work the day before helps.  For the most part, I do well at cooking and eating the food I purchase from the store.  I guess an occasional fast food breakfast won't kill me, but its not exactly good for me, either.

My favorite jeweler cleaned and resized this simple ring that Mark gave me for our 11th anniversary, meant to "match" his wedding band, and including four tiny diamonds.  I know nugget jewelry is no longer "in" but I'm OK with that.  This ring brings back many happy memories and makes me feel grounded. 

Very small project: installing a new potty seat.  I needed it after feeling so down about the tile job.  I won't go into great detail...

...other than to say the grout job was not done well.  So now I have to decide whether to:

*get the tile guy to fix it 

*fix it myself

*hire someone else to fix it

*stain it a darker color?

Stay tuned.

This giant ironstone bowl is something of a family heirloom.  Mark's grandmother used it to make bread dough - her specialty was brown bread.  He was close to his grandmother, an immigrant from Norway who spoke only little English but had the love of a dear little boy who enjoyed her bread.  The bowl is retired from bread-baking and now holds cinnamon potpourri.

On my birthday, I paused and thought of my mother.

How brave she was to make a life for herself as a single woman at 70 years young.  May I be as strong, creative, courageous, and ready to live a life worth living.

Gina

Monday menus #46

 I followed a budget and formula this year for my peep's Christmas gifts, and I think I did well.  One of the categories is "something to read".  Rather than spend $20 for one book apiece, I scoured two local Goodwills and bought maybe 6 or 7 books per person.  I stacked them with a heavy duty rubber band, tied burlap ribbon over that, and included a scrappy bookmark. 

Yet another "tacky homemade"! 

If I want to be more frugal, I have to flex my creative muscle!

Monday - I'm back to not worrying about making a dinner.  The people who currently live with me are adults and can fend for themselves. {Gina off today}

Tuesday - Alamo Bowls (rice, taco meat, black beans, corn, salsa, cheese) {Happy Birthday to me!, taking a beginner Tai Chi class}

Wednesday - Freezer Pizza and likely a side salad {cooking Thanksgiving food  today, on call in the evening}

Thursday - Turkey and Dressing, gravy and cranberry sauce, Bacon Green Beans, Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes, brownie and cookie tray {Gina works 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., eating Thanksgiving Meal around 2:30}

Friday - Day After Turkey Soup* {put all of the Christmas decor out}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

*I have been making this for years.  I simmer the turkey carcass on the stove (or in the crockpot) for hours, strain off the bones and etc.  Then add a can of condensed soup to the broth along with whatever fresh veggies I have in the fridge, some chopped leftover turkey, back to the soup pot and simmer it until the veggies are almost done.  Add some pasta and seasonings and cook another 10 minutes or so. Comfort in a bowl and it always reminds me of my mother.

Gift idea: Easy Christmas Fudge

 A friend gave me the most delish fudge a few Christmases ago so I got the recipe from her!  The perfect "tacky homemade*" for my peeps.

Easy Christmas Fudge

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (I'll be using this brand)

1 cup milk chocolate chips

2 T butter

1 t vanilla extract (plus a T of bourbon or rum if you like!)

Lightly grease a 9 inch square pan, lining with plastic wrap that extends over the edges of the dish so that you have handles to lift the fudge out later.  In a double boiler over simmering water, combine the condensed milk, chocolate chips, butter, and vanilla.  Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Stir in nuts or other items, if you like. Pour it into the prepared dish, smooth out the top, refrigerate 'til firm, then cut into squares.

Now. Here are the variations I am doing:

White Chocolate Fudge with Pistachios (might add a swirl of green to this)

White Chocolate Toasted Coconut

Gingerbread Crumble Dark Chocolate Fudge

Peanut Butter Pretzel Dark Chocolate Fudge

I plan on giving each person two different zip bags of fudge in these burlap sacks I made.  Tied up with a cinnadough ornament and maybe tucking the recipe inside, I think it will be sweet!

Afterwards, they can hang these and let the scent remind them of Christmas!

Gina

*"tacky homemades" is what my mother always called it when she made you something for Christmas - and yet I treasure these things, especially now.

Monday menus #45

One of the things I dread the most is going to Mother's house one last time and cleaning it out.  For good.  Dividing it all up has the potential of being both painful and stressful.

On the one hand, the quilts are treasured heirlooms.

On the other, they are beautiful burdens.

I am ready for the distraction of the holidays, how about you?

Monday - Crockpot boneless pork ribs, mashed potatoes, carrots

Tuesday - Market Spice Bowl, Cava style (rice, romaine, pickled red onion, tzatziki, corn, cucumber, yellow bell pepper, falafel, garlic dressing) {seal the bathroom grout in both bathrooms}

Wednesday - Chicken Francaise, (freezer) twice bakeds, rest of the rice, greens {cleaning out my pantry in advance of the holidays, painting the trim in both bathrooms}

Thursday - Smash Burger, melon, chips {taking myself to this movie, grocery shopping for Thanksgiving}

Friday - Skillet Tilapia, zucchini {payday, do errands, decorating my bedroom for Christmas}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - skinny tree, Thanksgiving prep, cinna dough, giving up habits, Rad Tech Week

 I bought a skinny Christmas tree for my bedroom - I have always wanted one and had no luck finding one at a thrift store.  So I just ordered off Amazon.

Its almost too skinny...

It came with just a few lights, which I like.  I think I will give it a wintry theme with crochet snowflakes, little birds, and a ribbon and berry spray topper.

I am done with buying 99% of Christmas.  (Before you go getting all shocked, let me tell you that I am buying for four people only.)  I followed the "something you want/need/wear/read" formula for my peeps and I think I did a good job!  I bought four gift totes and tissue and all I have left to get is some wide ribbon.  I have plenty o' tags. I stuck to a budget and got it done.  Now I can focus on deciding how to spend some stress-free holiday down time.

I was going to press the easy button on Thanksgiving, but my hours at work changed, so since I will be able to enjoy part of the day at home, I decided to go ahead and roast a turkey, make my own gravy and cranberry sauce, and fix the dressing from scratch.  I know I will have at least three of my peeps here for a late lunch.  The rest of the menu is fairly straightforward: mashed sweet potatoes, seasoned green beans, and a brownie tray for dessert!

I haven't made cinnamon dough ornaments in ages, so I ordered some new cookie cutters and mixed up a batch of the dough.  I don't add anything but unsweet applesauce and cinnamon and I set them on a cookie sheet to dry for days.  I poked holes in most of them, intending for them to be ornaments or package tie on's.  Bonus: my kitchen smells very festive.

What possessed me to buy peppermint mocha creamer....zero out of ten stars.  Mint cancels out coffee and tastes like someone spit toothpaste into your cup.

I guess I should really stop with the creamer altogether.

My life just three short years ago looked so different than it does today.  And as time goes by, I find I am one by one dropping some of the things that Mark and I were so into.  No more wine clubs, no more writing for the wine blog, no need for all of these glasses as I am drinking far less wine.  Someone from the Buy Nothing group came and collected them and it didn't make me feel all that sad.

Happy Rad Tech Week!

My boss gave us sussies, has games and an activity or two planned, and ordered food for us several days this week, including the weekend.  (something my old boss could have cared less about)

There's a week for every aspect of hospital life now.  Time we can recognize and celebrate the fact that we are all still here in our chosen professions.  Go us!

Gina

Monday menus #44

 Geez Louise, I'm happy to see the backside of October!

A lot of great October things have happened in my life - just not in 2023.  I know I shouldn't be wishing my days away, so I will just say that I am looking forward to the rest of the year with an eye towards 2024. 

Its gotta be better.

Monday - Crockpot Chicken Drums, cracked pepper Caesar chopped salad

Tuesday - Beef Fajita Salads (beef fajita meat, romaine, corn, black beans, purple onion, cheese) {touch up painted trim in bathrooms}

Wednesday - One Pot Spaghetti, broccoli

Thursday - Crispy Chicken Sandos, sweet potato fries {the tile guy is supposed to come finish the master bathroom - I will not hold my breath}

Friday - Lemon Garlic Shrimp, rice, Swiss chard

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - tile floors, quilts, Brenham, chalupas, anticipating the holidays

The floor in the boys' bathroom is 99% finished, so I just went ahead and spiffed up, bought a new rug, some delightful scented pump soap, and added some Fall touches.

Do I regret that I hired that tile guy?

in progress...

Well.  Yes and no.

Supposedly he will be back next week to fill in this gap, and begin tiling the master bathroom.  Once he is T totally finished (as Mark would say), I will never hire him again, no matter how pleased I am with the actual work.  You cannot take a three week break from this job you said you were ready for and leave me with work undone, your crap stored in my garage, and your tools on my patio.

Then make out like it was me who delayed the project.

I went to Mom's house yesterday to check on it.  Then I met with her attorney.

Upstairs, her sewing room is exactly as she left it on July 4th, including a quilt block in mid-construction.  It wrecked me.

I have to have faith that it will all work out, but I miss her so much.  There are so many things to divide amongst us - like 19 handmade quilts.  Which are in addition to the quilts she gave us over the years.  Each a priceless work of art.

My favorite artist, years ago.  Grand Champion!

I stopped at a burger place in downtown Brenham for lunch on Wednesday.  Was it good?  Yes.  But was it a terrible wait to get my food and a warm beer?  Yes.  Hopefully, I won't be going to Brenham more than another time or two.  And burgers need to be off my list of things to eat anyway.  My jeans are so tight I cannot breathe.

Oops.

I had other fish to fry, including picking up all of her mail that the stellar Brenham post office decided not to forward me.  "Its all junk mail", the guy at the counter said.  May I look?  Oh, here's a refund check, some sympathy cards, a few statements.  Definitely not junk, sir.

A lot of it was wet and moldy.  I gave it to the attorney anyway.  Not my circus, not my monkeys.  I am done worrying about it.

Last night was taco night.  I do love me a good chalupa with refried black beans, Cafe Rio style beef taco filling, loads of cheese and sour cream, lettuce and tomato to round it out.

YUM.

Does anyone else do this thing where they set all the ingredients out early, then wander off and do other stuff, then come back and make dinner once the meat is thawed?  Just me? Oh.

Fall feels like it is officially here and I am ready for a change in seasons.  I know that the rest of the year will zoooom by and I am 100% OK with that.  Its been a hard summer.  Let the holiday season begin!

Gina